2019 Film Festival

As part of Paraguay’s fading aristocracy and in dire financial straits, introvert Chela finds work as an ad hoc chauffeur. This leads to an encounter with earthy, sensual Angy — and an unexpected late-in-life revelation — in this sly and funny debut feature from writer/director Marcelo Martinessi.

film synopsis

Part of Paraguay’s fading aristocracy, brittle spirit Chela (Ana Brun, Silver Bear Award, Best Actress, Berlin Film Festival) and her longtime partner/caregiver Chiquita (Margarita Irún) live a cloistered life in a cluttered home whose grandeur has fallen into disrepair. In dire financial straits and with Chiquita’s going to prison for fraud, Chela receives an unexpected lifeline when gossipy neighbor Pituca (María Martins) asks the shy recluse to drive her to her daily bridge game. Soon Chela finds herself a not-so-reluctant chauffeur to a gaggle of aging gossips, but when she’s introduced to earthy, sensual Angy (Ana Ivanova), Chela finds herself in the thaw of self-renewal as the sexually open Angy slowly draws her out of her shell. She gets Chela in touch with her body and a willingness to participate in life’s messiness and unpredictability in this sly, subtle, and brave feature debut from writer/director Marcelo Martinessi.